political

The Union Jack

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The text has now faded from this Westwinds mural in Newtownards (which can be seen in this 2007 image). “The Union Jack – its construction and how to use it. ” The text describes the composition of the Union Flag from the St George’s Cross, St Andrew’s Saltire, and St Patrick’s Cross, and how to fly it properly: “In flying the flag, the broad white stripe of the cross of St Andrew should be next to the mast.” Also shown are Britannia astride the globe, a king and queen, a lion, naval boats and a sub, the flowers of the “home nations”, Titanic, and Belfast city hall with a H&W crane in the background. Blenheim Drive, Newtownards.

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Covenant Of Hearts

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2013-11-26 TavanaghStCovenant+

“Ulster’s covenant of hearts” is the title given to the main board in this collection commemorating the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Covenant in 1912 and the figure of Edward Carson, leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, founder of the Ulster Volunteers, and first signatory of the covenant.

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01468 28th september 1912 centenary province it is needful that we knit together as one man each strengthening the other and not holding back or counting the cost ulster council resolution signed by just under half a million men and women home rule bill belfast city hall lord londonderry chruches protestant craigavon unionists some in their own blood

The Sagart

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2013-12-05 AlecReid+

A tribute to Father Alec Reid, who died on November 22nd and buried on the 27th, has been added to the international wall on Divis Street. Reid was a priest in the nearby Clonard monastery and helped negotiate between Sınn Féın and the SDLP and between nationalists and the government of the Republic. He is perhaps best known for attempting to save Corporals Wood and Howe and administering the last rites to them, in 1988 (WP).

This piece takes the place of a ‘Free Marian Price” mural; Price was freed on May 30th, 2013.

The pieces to the left and right have been previously featured: End Internment | Milltown 25

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Sacred Heart Of Ulster

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2013-11-15 SacredHeartSquare+

This cheeky stencil gives Jesus a red hand of Ulster for a heart. At the corner of Royal Avenue and North Street.

Update: February 26th, 2014 “Yes I”.

2014-02-26 SacredHeartYesI+

2014-02-26 SacredHeartFive+

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Copyright © 2013/2014 Extramural Activity
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We Defy You!

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“If you leave us at liberty we will kill your recruiting, save our poor boys from your slaughter-house, and blast your hopes of Empire. If you strike at, imprison, or kill us, out of our prisons or graves we will still evoke a spirit that will thwart you, and, mayhap, raise a force that will destroy you. We defy you! Do your worst!” – James Connolly, Courtsmartial And Revolution, 1914.

CNR west Belfast, possibly St James’s. Please get in touch if you know the precise location.

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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True Legend

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2013-10-17 ThatcherLegend+

Graffiti on the Forthriver Road, in Glencairn: “RIP Maggie Thatcher. True Legend. The Iron Lady.” Beneath a banner reading “Glencairn demands civil rights for all Protestants now!”

Previously: Various anti-Thatcher graffiti

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PSNI

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2013-10-08 PSNInterests+

Graffiti at the corner of Lawnbrook Avenue and the Shankill Road: Policing Supporting Nationalists Interests (rather than: Police Service of Northern Ireland).

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Ring Of Peace

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2013-10-01 RingPeaceCentre+

Here are three shots of the “Ring Of Peace” mural, a massive, three storey piece in Waring Street, undertaken in 1998 to mark the Good Friday Agreement, by Francisco Letelier (with Jennifer Trouton, Colin McGookin, Marie Thérèse Davis) – here is a shot of the artist working on the piece. The mural shows four double-handed arms clasping each other in a circle against a back-drop of cosmic and nature scenes. In the lower portion, two human figures reach out to each other.

Letelier is a Chilean living in Los Angeles, USA; he flew from LA to paint the mural (LATimes). Here is his blog, and a set of Letelier images on Flickr.

2013-10-01 RingPeaceLower+

2013-10-01 RingPeaceWide+

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Shankill Reflections

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2013-08-02 ShankillReflections+

For the Union Flag mural on the other side of the road, see The People’s Army and LPWA, and for the plaque see Big Bill Campbell.

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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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Occupy

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2013-09-14 OccupyTillICome+

Another image from inside the Clifton Street Orange Order hall: an outline of the island of Ireland under the title (in Old Irish script) Oḋreaċt na [h]Éıreann – The Heritage of Ireland – surrounded by the coats of arms of the cities of Londonderry, Dublin, Cork and Belfast, and with the words “Occupy Till I Come – Luke 19:13” at the bottom.

“Occupy until I come” is the King James translation of Luke 19:13 (Greek: πραγματεύσασθαιἐνᾧἔρχομαι) and is better translated as “conduct business until I come [back]”. It is from the story of the king who gave money to 10 servants to see what they would make with it. The one who does nothing with it says he knows the king is exploitative and harsh (αὐστηρὸς, austere!) and he was afraid (to lessen or lose the money, presumably). To which the king says, roughly, ‘if you knew that I expect to profit from other people, you should have done something with it!’ and has his money taken away; meanwhile, the citizens who spoke against the king in his absence are executed. So the moral of the story for Ireland is … the King has given Ireland to Protestants in order to increase its value, and they better make sure they do, because he expects to collect the profit; and anyone among the natives who protests is to be executed upon his return?

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